Mass Merchant

Former shopper marketing executive turned Walmart SVP of creative Andy Murray will share his views on the retail industry’s evolving omnichannel landscape during a keynote presentation at the annual Shopper Marketing Summit.
 

Issaquah, Wash. - Costco Wholesale Club’s same-store sales rose 3% in December, beating analysts' estimates of a 1.8% gain. The metric climbed 5% in the U.S. and inched up 1% overseas for the five weeks ended Jan. 5.

Total monthly revenue increased 6% to $11.53 billion.

For the 18-week period, same-store sales were up 3%. In the U.S. the metric rose 4% and 1% internationally.

David Glass has kept such a low public profile since stepping down as Walmart president and CEO it was surprising to see his name pop up as the featured speaker at an upcoming event in Northwest Arkansas.

Glass stepped down as CEO of Walmart nearly 15 years ago and he’s scarcely been heard from since, leaving those newer to the company to know him largely as the guy after whom the company’s massive information technology building is named.

Naples, Fla. - Retail and consumer products industry veterans Vince Burke, Jim Gillis and Rich Juliano have founded of the Burke Gillis Juliano Group, a global consultancy focused on the supermarket, mass retail, convenience, drug and specialty retail trade channels. Burke Gillis Juliano Group offers executive management, market strategy, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, business development, product marketing, trade relations and related services to retailers, suppliers and vendors in the U.S. and globally.

Soft sales at leading home goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond led to a puny comp increase of 1.3%, lower than expected third quarter profits and a downward revision to fourth quarter expectations.

Los Angeles — The retail availability rate fell 70 basis points in 2013, reaching 12% and reflecting continued net absorption gains, according to a report from CBRE. The rate fell 30 basis points in the fourth quarter, which matches the momentum of the first half of 2013 after a flat third quarter.

Tampa, Fla. — RMC Property Group has announced plans to redevelop the Publix-anchored Indian Rocks Shopping Center in Largo, Fla. Bealls Outlet and Dollar Tree also serve as co-anchors at the center.

Publix recently signed a new lease and plans to completely redevelop a 45,000-sq.-ft. store. The existing Publix closed in December 2013. Plans call for the redeveloped store to open this fall.

New York -- After almost 93 years, off-price specialty retailer Loehmann's is going out of business.

On Jan. 7, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan approved an order authorizing a joint venture formed by SB Capital Group, LLC, Tiger Capital Group, LLC, and A & G Realty Partners, to conduct "Going Out of Business" sales in each of Loehmann's 39 locations in 11 states and the District of Columbia.